First game questions

[swatter555]

Hello everyone!

I was wondering if I could get some advice from some WIP:AE veterans about how to approach my first game.
I am playing as the Japanese in BigBs May 1942 scenario. Up to this point I have read good portions of the
manual and have watched many online tutorials. I am getting to the point where I am wanting to issue an order,
but everything is so daunting. I need of advice on some specific issues:

1) What are the most important convoys to setup first? What ports are actively producing resources that must be picked
up?

2) What is a good strategy in China. I realize historically that it was a stalemate for the most part; is it easy
just to keep things at the historical level?

3) Looking at the industry page is very daunting, especially with the inclusion of so many minor versions of aircraft
and the inclusion of engines. My first instinct is to focus on one type of each aircraft. Is that a good idea? Then I
see the production screen has many R&D factories working on a huge variation of future types. I was also wanting to
focus those R&D factories on a narrower range of types. I haven't even factored engine production into my schemes
yet.


Any advice would be appreciated.

[crsutton]

I would start by reading some of the After Action reports from the Japanese players. Look for some that have been going on a long time.

[Numdydar]

You can check out my production primer for Japan here

http://www.matrixgames.com/forums/tm.asp?m=3329605

You can find other stuff like this in the War Room forum which you may also find useful [:)]

[swatter555]

Thanks

[rustysi]

ORIGINAL: swatter555

Hello everyone!

I was wondering if I could get some advice from some WIP:AE veterans about how to approach my first game.

I'd recommend taking the game in 'chunks'. IOW don't try to do every thing at once, then start over and learn some more. My first game I did nothing but move forces around during the expansion (went to about Feb. '42). Second game moved all resources and played with the economy. Third I'm in Sept. '42 and I'm just looking at most of the A/C stuff above the basics I felt I needed. That being said see below. Also keep in mind I'm playing stock scen1 and am unfamiliar with mods and whatnot.

I am playing as the Japanese in BigBs May 1942 scenario. Up to this point I have read good portions of the manual and have watched many online tutorials. I am getting to the point where I am wanting to issue an order, but everything is so daunting. I need of advice on some specific issues:

1) What are the most important convoys to setup first? What ports are actively producing resources that must be picked up?

At the start: Sakhalin, Hokkaido, Formosa (not ports but locations), and Port Arthur.

2) What is a good strategy in China. I realize historically that it was a stalemate for the most part; is it easy just to keep things at the historical level?

Against the AI, not sure it matters. I play aggressively, because its how I'd do a PBEM. Keep in mind a live opponent will be quite different than the computer. I have read here if you ignore China later in the game she can become quite strong and give Japan massive headaches. At that point in the game I think Japan will have enough other things to worry about. My intent in the game is to render China impotent. It can be done with the forces already there. You will need to ship in supply.

3) Looking at the industry page is very daunting, especially with the inclusion of so many minor versions of aircraft and the inclusion of engines. My first instinct is to focus on one type of each aircraft. Is that a good idea? Then I see the production screen has many R&D factories working on a huge variation of future types. I was also wanting to focus those R&D factories on a narrower range of types. I haven't even factored engine production into my schemes yet.

I think you're gonna have to play around with the economy a bit to get a feel for what you can and can not do. Go ahead break it (I know I did), it'll be a great learning experience. I agree that some streamlining of the A/C industry is necessary. But unless you're playing with PDU on you may have to produce some types you may not really want as reinforcements will use them. Also when playing around with changing production items always do it from the industry screen and always after a save. You'll want to be able to go back if you muck things up.

Any advice would be appreciated.


Rusty

[rustysi]

ORIGINAL: Numdydar

You can check out my production primer for Japan here

http://www.matrixgames.com/forums/tm.asp?m=3329605

You can find other stuff like this in the War Room forum which you may also find useful [:)]

This is where I started. Its now heavily modified to my own game style.

[swatter555]

I am digesting that now.

[Uncivil Engineer]

ORIGINAL: swatter555

Hello everyone!

I was wondering if I could get some advice from some WIP:AE veterans about how to approach my first game.
I am playing as the Japanese in BigBs May 1942 scenario. Up to this point I have read good portions of the
manual and have watched many online tutorials. I am getting to the point where I am wanting to issue an order,
but everything is so daunting. I need of advice on some specific issues:

1) What are the most important convoys to setup first? What ports are actively producing resources that must be picked
up?

2) What is a good strategy in China. I realize historically that it was a stalemate for the most part; is it easy
just to keep things at the historical level?

3) Looking at the industry page is very daunting, especially with the inclusion of so many minor versions of aircraft
and the inclusion of engines. My first instinct is to focus on one type of each aircraft. Is that a good idea? Then I
see the production screen has many R&D factories working on a huge variation of future types. I was also wanting to
focus those R&D factories on a narrower range of types. I haven't even factored engine production into my schemes
yet.


Any advice would be appreciated.

I agree with all the responses so far, but thought I'd add a few more items:

1. Increase the supply draw to 3000 to 5000 for every base in Japan that is producing, repairing, or researching any industrial item. Check every turn that things you want to repair are actually doing so. Turn OFF repair of manpower, resource, and light industry (there is nothing to repair here initially, but I don't want any of these items, if damaged, to start repairing). Also turn these off at each base as allied bases are captured. The supply to repair these is NOT worth the cost.

2. Hokkaido makes ~44,000 resources per day, but needs none of it. The other home islands are ~88,000 resources short per day. I set up convoys from Kushiro, Hakodate, and Sapporo to bases on Honshu. Load every day, but only send the ESCORTED xAK's every 3 or 4 days.

3. China/Manchukuo also have excess resource that can be shipped to the home islands. You can use Shanghai, Fusan, and/or Port Arthur. I use the first 2, and try to use the slower/smaller xAK/xAKL's with inadequate endurance for longer runs.

4. I expand heavy industry in increments of 10, but at no more than 5 bases at a time. A target of 16,000 HI per day is a good start. You'll want to have ~2 million HI in the bank by the end of '42.

I hope this helps. Others may have better ideas.

[swatter555]

Thank you, thank you!

I have read the linked document twice, thanks for making it! You have saved me a few screwed up restarts.

UncivilEngineer- Thanks for the specific advice.

[GetAssista]

ORIGINAL: swatter555
You have saved me a few screwed up restarts.

Oh, don't worry. With this game each Japan campaign you play will feel like a screwed up start after several turns already =) in years to come. There is so many things to learn here, this game is immense. so just dont allow yourself to feel screwed up and carry on.

I'd say that Allies side is more suitable for the first game than Japan, because it is more forgiving to inevitable mistakes. But Japan is more fun in the start

[n01487477]

ORIGINAL: swatter555

Thank you, thank you!

I have read the linked document twice, thanks for making it! You have saved me a few screwed up restarts.

UncivilEngineer- Thanks for the specific advice.

Yes, but have you checked out Kull's setup?
tm.asp?m=3253803&mpage=1&key=&#3253803
And my Econ101 doc(link in signature)

[swatter555]

Thanks again!

A couple of questions:

1) How do you properly use submarine tenders?

2) Are AVs basically mobile search platforms? They also look like the have aircraft capacity other than float planes. Can they also provide replacements for CV aircraft at the same time?

[GetAssista]

ORIGINAL: swatter555
1) How do you properly use submarine tenders?

Deploy them at forwards ports closer to your sub activity to shorten the cycle of return-repair-reload. They can do stuff that most of ports can't because of size.

ORIGINAL: swatter555
2) Are AVs basically mobile search platforms? They also look like the have aircraft capacity other than float planes. Can they also provide replacements for CV aircraft at the same time?

Two main uses here. First is convoy duty with ASW using their own planes. Second one is search from forward bases. AVs can tend to any float planes at the base w/o any kind of other facilities, even from a dot hex. The number other than capacity is aviation support to FPs when at base. Very useful for both allies and Japan, especially the latter as you would not want to build up a base to give Allies a stepping stone to you later

[swatter555]

AVs sound like very useful units.

Do you just send the submarine tenders to a base? Do they just sit there or do you deploy them in TFs?

[Alfred]

Read this thread
 
http://www.matrixgames.com/forums/tm.asp?m=3286922&mpage=1&key=tenders&#3286959
 
on ship tenders.
 
Alfred

[swatter555]

Thanks and bookmarked!

[wegman58]

In the 'War Room' first topic stickied is a Newbie thread. Go there are read as much as you can digest.

I play allies so I skipped the Imperial Production but everything else was reviewed at least once.

[swatter555]

I actually pressed the turn button and nothing sank.

[rustysi]

ORIGINAL: swatter555

I actually pressed the turn button and nothing sank.

[&o][&o][&o][:D]

[swatter555]

One question: How quickly does the auto-convoy system ramp up?